Local races go to Republicans

Residents felt compelled to be heard

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Democrats were defeated in the only two contested local elections in Tom Green County on Tuesday's ballot.

Republican Ralph Hoelscher was elected to a second term as Tom Green County commissioner for Precinct 1, defeating Democratic challenger Jesse Martinez in the only one of the four precincts in the county that has a majority minority population.

In the sheriff's race, Republican David Jones had an easy victory over Democrat Walter Bryant and Libertarian David Benton.

Democratic Party President Linda Shoemaker took a bright view of the night.

"We did have in Precinct 1 record numbers of people voted," she said. "Jesse ran such a good campaign. Jesse worked so hard. It never was a race against Ralph Hoelscher. It was a race for the position."

Jones, who at 11 p.m. was leading with more than 70 percent of early votes, said he's looking forward to serving as sheriff and "all the good things ahead."

"It's been a real good day and it's an even better night," Jones said. "We're excited about it, about the opportunities that are going to unfold and the opportunity to serve."

He said the campaign taught him patience — with the first primary election being postponed, then having to campaign for a primary runoff in July, and then campaigning again for weeks leading up to Tuesday night.

"What I've enjoyed about this campaign really is that I've been able to meet some really fine people in this community," he said. "It makes me so proud of this community — the number of people who serve and are so involved. A lot of them have been a big help to me in my campaign. I'm proud of what this community stands for and what's happening in it."

Democratic sheriff candidate Bryant said he learned a lot from this election season.

"We'll be ready for the next campaign," Bryant said. "It's my second time running and it won't be my last."

He is thankful for all the support he received and appreciative of the help.

"Everyone's telling me to keep my chin up and promising to back me when I run again," he said. "I wish Mr. Jones the best. He ran a good race."

David Benton, who received 4.13 percent of the vote, said the figure was "about what he figured."

He said he was glad that more than 1,000 people voted for him.

"To me that shows there are people that feel like I do," Benton said. "There's a lot of straight ticket voting that goes on. I'm not really surprised, but I'm really thankful my message got out to a lot of people."

Martinez congratulated his opponent and thanked voters.

"We congratulate Mr. Hoelscher in his victory and we recognize the will of the Precinct 1 voters," he said. "They made their decision and we respect that decision. Obviously we're disappointed, but still in good spirits. Martinez said he was unsure about another run for office.

"At the moment not thinking anything other than having a few weeks of rest and vacation," he said.

Hoelscher looked forward to another four year term as commissioner.

"I thank the voters for all their support and staying with me in this campaign," he said. "I want to go another four years and do roadwork and keep a balanced budget and keep that tax rate as low as it can be, and also be mindful of the needs of the people."

Voter turnout for the election was strong, with 36,863 ballots cast in total, but still short of the 38,681 that turned out for the last presidential election in 2008.

Mild fall weather and sunshine encouraged voter turnout.

Richard Martinez finished voting at the Southland Baptist Church site early Tuesday afternoon. "It's a great day to do it," he said. "Beautiful sunshine."

He said he was thankful for the weather, given the harsh storms the East Coast recently endured.

Martinez said he had been hoping for another Obama presidency.

"That would be great," he said. "Bush got a second chance, too."

Either way, he said he would be behind the victor.

"We're all Americans first, and I support whoever is president," the San Angelo retiree said.

Harold Brothers also voted at Southland Baptist Church.

"Every race is important, and it's important to vote," the Shannon Medical Center pharmacist said. "It's a tremendous privilege and responsibility."

He said he was glad the campaigning is over.

"It's too long," he said in reference to election campaigning.

There was too much hype with manipulative advertising, he said. The best way to vote was to do personal research into the candidates and issues, he said.

"You have to find out a lot of things for yourself," he said.

At the South Side Rec Center, 2750 Ben Ficklin Road, Cruz Morua, 80, declined to say who she voted for beyond local elections, but she said the economy was at the top of her list of concerns. She said she'd like to see more job creation and someone who would "make people go to work instead of just handing money out."

"I just hope I got the right ones," Morua said. "You never know who's the lesser of the evils."

Alicia Mata was another voter at the rec center who wouldn't say who she picked for president, but said locally she voted for Martinez and Bryant.

"The vote is important no matter what your party," she said. "Just make sure your vote is known."

On a national scale, health care and the future of Medicare is important to Mata, who is in the process of retiring. She and her husband, who voted with her Tuesday, have 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren to think about when they cast their ballot.

Funding for education is important to the couple.

At Belmore Baptist Church, Diana Gonzales walked out after voting a straight ticket.

"I believe the Democratic Party is always for the working people," she said. "I've always voted that way."

She said that although the isn't perfect, she believes President Barack Obama has accomplished much in his first term. She credited him with saving the auto industry, ending the war in Iraq and, hopefully, ending the war in Afghanistan.

Aside from his politics, she believes Obama to be a good person.

"He's sincere, he's humble," she said. "He seems like a family man, a good husband."

Gonzales said she remembers struggling financially, with feeding and caring for two small children, when George W. Bush took office after former President Bill Clinton.

"Us working people are the ones who make the world turn," she said. "The rich will be rich no matter who's in office."

She said her son, a member of the Army, planned to vote for Romney. Although she doesn't agree with that, she's glad he is practicing his right to vote.

"I'm going to keep my mouth shut," she said.

At the polling place at 2321 Armstrong St., Chris Trubenstein said this is the first time in the past three elections that he voted the straight Republican ticket.

In the past he usually looks at individual candidates and has voted both Republican and Democrats into office.

"I'm not satisfied with what the Democrats did the past four years," he said.

His major complaint against Obama was his response to the deaths of U.S. Embassy staff in Libya.

Trubenstein said even if he were an Obama supporter he doesn't think he could support a president who was "sitting in the White House watching and didn't send forces in."

"It really bothers me," he said. "That very well could have been my son or daughter."